A generator is one of those tools that you never really think about until you need it. It could be that your power has gone out during a blizzard. Perhaps the power went down during a hurricane. Or, it could be something less harmful such as a simple camping trip. Whatever your reason is for using a generator they can provide you with much needed power and they can be a great tool to add to your collection.

If you are in the market for a generator though the amount of choices and options can be a bit daunting. There are all different features, wattage sizes, outlets, and applications out there. So, which generator do you need? Which one is right for you? In this article we are going to take a deep dive into DuroMax’s DS4000S 4,000 Watt Portable Generator. We will look at the features that are offered, the Pros, the Cons, and anything that else that comes up in between. At the end of this post you should have a pretty firm grasp on rather this generator is the one for you, or if you should be looking at an alternative product.

Before You Buy

Before you consider purchasing a generator rather it be this model or something else it is always smart to stop and take a step back to look at all of the possible considerations that need to be factored in. Generators come in all sorts of sizes, features, and safety concerns. Do you know what to look for? Do you know where to begin? If you do, then by all means bypass this section and move right onto the Product Features.

However, if you find that you still have some questions on what to look for then I highly suggest you take the time and read through some of our guides. These guides will serve as your compass in the maze that are generators. Yes, I know, that was a bad analogy. Oh well. That aside, these guides will provide you the knowledge on what to look for and after reading if you find that this product isn’t the right one for you then we have served our purpose by steering you in the right direction.

If you are not sure what size of generator you should be buying click here to be taken to our generator size guide. Also, be aware that sizing your generator isn’t as easy as estimating or guessing. In order to get the appropriate and correct power required you need to take the time to add up all of the wattages of your appliances and figure out the starting/running watts of each.

If you are not sure what features you should be looking for then click here to be taken to our top features for generators guide. This guide dives deep into the various bells and whistles that you can get on your generator. If you’re a bare bones guy then this article may not be for you, but if you are looking to get some of those extra features and save yourself some time and headaches then I suggest you check out the guide.

Like it or not maintaining your generator and ensuring it is running properly is a must. After all, you want your generator and your investment to last, right? Well ensuring the proper maintenance is done year after year will do just that. Click here to be taken to our Generator Maintenance Guide.

Lastly, if you are not quite sure how to safely use and run a generator then please click here to be taken to our safety guide. This could be setting up the system, grounding your generator, or running your generator. Safety is something I just can’t stress enough of when dealing with generators.These machines can be life savers but they can also be very dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. If used incorrectly it can lead to property damage, fire damage, personal injury, or even fatalities. Safety first!

Product Features

The Duromax DS4000S comes in at four-thousand starting watts and thirty-three hundred running watts. (If you aren’t sure what the differences are between running and starting watts I recommend you click here to be taken to our guide on this matter.) While thirty-three hundred watts isn’t enough power to install a manual transfer switch it does give you enough juice to run a few appliances in your home in a power loss situation. For example, you would be able to run your refrigerator, small air conditioner, and some lighting throughout your home. You will NOT be able to power appliances that are directly wired into your home such as your furnace or central air conditioner. To do this, you would need to install a manual transfer switch. Along with alternative home power this generator is a great selection for those of you looking for a power source either on a job site or for those of you recreational RVers out there. The DS4000S is built to withstand some abuse as it comes with a heavy duty steel frame that helps insulated the generator from being banged around.

DuroStar DS4000S Portable Generator

The power panel of this generator is easily visible and shows you everything from the engine shut-off switch, volt meters, circuit breakers, and your power connections. As shown in the picture to the right the product comes with two one-hundred and twenty volt outlets and one one-hundred and twenty 30A twist lock. This twist lock can be used to hook your generator up to a manual transfer switch, but from what I have read it is best to purchase generators over five-thousand watts if you intend to go with a manual transfer switch. It is better to be safe then sorry when it comes to overloading your generator.

Speaking of overloading, the other day I was writing an article about what can happen when you overload your generator. An overload is when you are trying to pull too much power from your generator, or you are exceeding it’s total wattage. In the article I explained how you can overload your generator and what the consequences could be if you did. Now, hopefully you don’t have that problem, but IF you do end up overloading your generator by mistake you can rest assured as this model comes with a circuit breaker that will stop an overload from occurring. If your generator senses and overload it will shut down automatically to prevent damage to the system. This is a nice insurance policy on an expensive tool

This DuroMax generator runs on standard eighty-seven octane gasoline. That is most likely the same gasoline that your vehicle or lawn mower uses. The product comes with a four gallon tank and can last up to eight hours on one tank. (The eight hours can be variable depending on the load of the generator.) There is also a fuel gauge on this product that will allow you to view your fuel levels as the unit runs. (Remember, never refuel your generator while it is running or still hot.) The recommend oil for this product is SAE 10W-30 and the capacity is twenty fluid ounces or .6 liters. As most of you know the oil needs to be checked and added each time fuel is added to ensure your system is running efficiently. The good news is that if you forget to add oil the DS4000S has what’s known as an emergency low oil shut-off switch. This switch does just what’s described, it shuts your generator off if it gets too low on oil. This protects your generator and prevents any overheating damage. The generator is started with a rip-cord, similar to that of a push lawn mower or hand-held weed-whacker.

Pros

Ok folks so now that we have the Product Features section out of the way let’s take a look at some of the Pros of this Duromax generator. The first one that I am going to mention right off the bat is the overall price of this product. If you compare this generator to others in the same wattage class you will notice a distinct difference when it comes to price. I’m not going to put a specific price in this article as the price can change at anytime, but as I write the product is ranging around two-hundred and fifty dollars. That’s about one-hundred dollars cheaper then some of the other products out there. Yes, you won’t get some of the nicer features that the other generators have, but this is a great buy if you are on a budget.

Whenever I am buying an expensive tool like this I like to know that I have a warranty standing behind the product in case something goes wrong. In this case this DuroMax generator comes with a three year home warranty and a one year commercial warranty. So, if something does go wrong you are covered for three years. Remember folks to start your generator regularly to ensure it is in proper working order.

This model of generator is fully complaint with Environmental Protection Agency regulations. On top of that it is also complaint with what’s known as CARB. CARB stands for California Air Resources Board. What this means is that this generator is able to be ran in all fifty states. While that’s not something you would really think about it is a good peace of mind to know that you aren’t breaking any laws!

I’ve never been a big fan of noise. The quieter the better for me and the DS4000S is quiet… for a generator. Sure, the unit is still going to be loud but there are loud generators and there are LOUD generators. In this case this system comes in at around sixty-nine dbas. I looked up similar noises at this level and the best comparison I could find is that it’s about the same level as your clothes washer. That’s not too bad.

Cons

Alright folks on to the Cons. While this product is highly reviewed in most places I looked there are always going to be downsides. In this case the number one downside I saw for this product was that the unit did not start at all. In other words, the consumer received a bad product that needs to be warrantied. We all know this happens, but what’s funny and a little sad here is that some reviewers bought this generator and kept it in the box until the time came where they needed it. They didn’t try to turn it on upon receiving it. No. They sat on it until their power went out and then when they tried to start their generator up nothing happened. Heck, that may have not even been the company’s fault depending on how the consumer stored the generator. The point I’m making here folks is to test your generator after purchasing. Make sure that it is working. If it’s not, then take advantage of that three year warranty.

There are a few other smaller Cons that I wanted to bring to your attention. The first is that this unit doesn’t come with an electric starter. While that may not seem like a big deal right now I can assure you that if you are out in the elements trying to get your generator started and you keep pulling that dam rip-cord over and over again an electric starter will sound pretty damn good. This is just more of a convenience factor though and will not affect the overall quality of your generator. The second con that I wanted to mention is the weight of the product. Now, for those of you that don’t know, portable generators can be heavy. Some of them are really heavy. Luckily, the Duromax DS4000S comes in at right about one-hundred pounds. The downside here is that I found no mention of wheels or a wheel kit. This product will have to be moved the old-fashioned way. While I could move this without too much difficulty, I am a big guy. Those of you who aren’t as large may have trouble moving this unit back and forth during setup.

When buying things online there is always risk of damage from the transport carrier. This is moreso when you are dealing with a larger product like a generator. While most people who order this item receive it in fine condition there is still the risk of the unit arriving to your home damaged. If this does happen then I would recommend filing a complaint with Amazon on your order. If you aren’t having any luck in that avenue then you could file a claim on DuroMax’s website under their three year warranty.

Conclusion

The DuroMax Power D000sS is a great buy for those of you looking for a portable generator with just enough power to get you through some hard times. While it cannot power your whole home, it can give you that power when it is most needed rather it be at the campsite, the RV parking lot, or at a construction site. Whatever your reason for purchasing one I can safely say that this is a great product. If you don’t believe me you can check out our Amazon.com product page and see just how many positive reviews there are. As I write this article there are over six-hundred reviews all with an average rating of four out of five stars. That is an impressive rating especially with that many people reviewing. If you are interested in purchasing this product please click here to be taken to our Amazon.com partner.

However, after reading this review you have found that this generator is not the one for you rather it be for the features it offers, the price, or just the overall size of the unit then let me suggest you check out our Best Generator Guide by clicking here. This guide takes you through what type of generator you need for each application and what our ToughAssTool top picks are in each category.

Lastly, I want to mention the legal stuff. This article was written for advice and informational purposes only. We here at ToughAssTools are not responsible nor liable for any property damage, fire damage, injuries, or any other related matters when it comes to purchasing, installing, and running your generators.

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